This weekend, Shenton Park Dog Refuge Home are hosting their biggest annual fundraiser: their home open day!
Held over both Saturday and Sunday, the fundraiser is essentially a marketplace with an array of stalls and pooch-friendly activities. You can expect dog-related giftware, a plants stall, live music, coffee, cake & a classic Aussie sausage sizzle (with vegan options), and a dedicated kid’s corner with games and kids activities. Plus, as always, the shelter will be open for adoptions should you want to take one of their pooches home.
Their famous ‘jumble sale’ market is back this year, offering a bunch of retro items such as a 1980s alarm clock, 1950s collectable cigarette tins and antique bone china, as well as clothing, jewellery, a high-quality LED projector and more. Prices are from just 50c, with all proceeds going to the Dogs’ Refuge.
Perhaps the cutest stall of all is the Puppy Kissing Booth, a little play-pen filled with tiny puppies ready to smooch the faces of kids and dog-loving adults. Other special features include a stall from renowned animal photographer and owner of Houndstooth Studio, Alex Cearns. Having photographed animals all over the world, Alex will be displaying her famous pet and animal portraits and her books, including the newly released ‘Perfect Imperfection’ which showcases portraits of perfectly imperfect pets.
To mark their 85th birthday, a ‘through the years’ display will be set up to celebrate their rich history, including photos of when they first opened back in 1935. Interestingly, the refuge was built entirely by women lead by Constance Horrocks, an animal activist who had been lobbying for the humane treatment of stray pets since 1913. Thanks to Constance’s hard work way back then, the refuge has gone on to save the lives of 60,000 dogs by finding them a forever home.
Shenton Park Dog Refuge Home open day is on this Saturday and Sunday, Oct 24 & 25 from 10am-2.30pm, with a gold coin donation required for entry.
To donate, see here.
